Béla Bartók: Folk Inspiration

In this episode of the Infernal Dance series, Malcolm Gillies and Esa-Pekka Salonen delve deeper into Bartók's collection and use of folk songs. We trace Bartók’s journey from recording music in the field, to seeing how he transcribed, then translated this music to his own compositions.

Muzsikás show us some traditional Hungarian folk instruments and demonstrate the techniques
used to play them, and Esa-Pekka Salonen explores Bartók’s detailed notation of folk music at the Columbia University Archives in New York.

To find out more about the Philharmonia Orchestra's 'Infernal Dance' series, please visit: philharmonia.co.uk/bartok